Giannoulias’ 1st TV spot banks on attack strategy

Ad tries to spin FDIC takeover into slam on Kirk

April 26, 2010|By John Chase, Tribune reporter

Democratic Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias unveiled his first TV commercial of the general election campaign Monday, seeking to turn the bad news of his family bank's failure into an attack on Republican opponent Mark Kirk.

The commercial, which aides said is airing across Illinois, comes just three days after federal banking regulators seized control of Broadway Bank. MB Financial Bank acquired the family business as part of Friday's takeover.

In the ad, black-and-white photos of Broadway Bank and Giannoulias' father are shown as the 34-year-old Democratic state treasurer says Broadway helped "thousands of people achieve the American dream."

Arguing the bank was another example of a "family business" hurt by the recession, Giannoulias slams Kirk, a North Shore congressman, for voting for policies backed by former President George W. Bush that "got us into this mess."

"People want someone … who's been through tough times … looked at those problems in the face and continues to move on … and continues to fight and to struggle for people," he says in the ad, echoing a message he has been crafting in recent months as Broadway's failure appeared imminent.

Giannoulias also was seeking to change the subject with a campaign swing near Carbondale and Champaign where he was scheduled to discuss mine safety and education. On Wednesday he plans to appear with President Barack Obama in Quincy as part of the president's Midwest tour to promote jobs.

Giannoulias earlier said he didn't plan to attend the president's event, to which other statewide officials have also been invited. The White House has not embraced the Giannoulias candidacy, a potential problem for Democrats trying to keep a Senate seat that Obama once held.

Giannoulias, who was a senior loan officer at Broadway, cited his experience as a major qualification when he ran for state treasurer in 2006. At the time the bank was doing well financially.

But in recent years it has become a political problem for the candidate as critics have questioned Giannoulias' role in questionable loans, including to two men with criminal records.

Kirk's campaign said in a news release that Giannoulias was using an attack ad to distract voters from his record at Broadway.